Reeling means



March 14, 1933.

J. S. VOORHEES REELING MEANS Filed Oct. 1'7,- 1929 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN s. voonnnnaor DERBY, CONNECTICUT REELING MEANS Application filed October 17, 1929. Serial No. 400,203.

This invention relates to reels for. flexible line. It relates especially to marine anchors comprising means for reeling line thereon I leading to decoys and other small floating bodies. It is adapted for use where an anchor of metal or other material of suitable weight is allowed to descend to the bottom of a body of water and is attached by a flexible line to p the floating body.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a reel on which slack line may be conveniently disposed of where either single or multiple lines are used and to lock thereeled line so as p to prevent its unreeling. Where the invention is embodied in an anchor, it may be used for reeling slack anchor line thereon. Further purposes of my invention are to provide means 011 an anchor for taking up different amounts of slack in the lines leading to diffcrent floating objects attached to thesame anchor and to provide means for reeling up anchor line when not in use.

In the useof anchors for decoys, for example, it frequently happens that waters I '25 of varying depth are encountered and that different lengths of line leading from the anchor to the decoy are needed in order to secure proper length of line under the varying conditions. It is also frequently desirableto 30 have different decoys arranged "at different distances and maintained in position by lines of different lengths from a single anchor. Moreover, it frequently becomes desirable to conveniently dispose of lines when not in use. While it is possible to meet these situations by using different lines under different circumstances, the changing of the lines is very inconvenient. Also the presence of useless slack when a line is shortened presents considerable practical difficulty. My invention affords means for overcoming these difficulties in a simple, convenient and eflicient manner. The simplicity of the operations necessary i n using my invention makes it highly desirable and of great utility. The operations necessary to perform the functions of my device are so simple that theymay beperformed while wearing mittens, thus adapting it for use under most severe weather conditions.

Other objects, purposes and novel features of my. invention will appear from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of an anchor embodying the reeling means of this invens tion; 1 q

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and

8 is a modified form of reeling means embodying the invention. 7 a

in Figs. 1 and 2, 10 is the body portion of '60 the anchor which is made of some metal or other substance of suitable weight. It is made of size and thickness appropriate to hold thefloating objects which it is desired tohave anchored thereby.

The'loody portion may comprise a suitable reel portion upon which line may be reeled such as notches or recesses 14, 14 and 15, 15 at the sides of the anchor on which line may be wound as desired. Flexible line or lines 11 may conveniently be attached to the anchor by passing same first through the hole 12 and then across the anchor and through hole 13 where the line can be tied by a suitable knot. The line can thereafter be Wound upon the recesses 14:, 1 1- and 15, 15 as desired. A reel wherein the two holes 12 and 13 or other'similar construction is employed is regarded as preferableas such construction insures one taut line being extended 30 in definite position between members of the body portion of the anchor. However, it is apparent that such construction is not essential to this invention, for merelyby winding the line upon a reelportion of the anchor 35 such as notches 14, 1 1 one or more taut lines are afforded for cooperation with the locking means of this invention and a'ny such line wound or otherwise extended with substantial tautness across the anchoror between memhers thereofis to be regarded as a taut line extended betweenmembers of the body portion of the anchor. i

Emanating from the body portion of the anchor are arms 23 which are shaped to partially enclose an opening underlying the nor-' mal position of a taut line'extendedbetween holes 12 and 13 or between notches 14,14 and which prevent the lateral movementof' a con tinuous line, e. g., a lineextending continu- 1G9 ously from a reel portion of the anchor, into and out of said openin except adjacent an extremity of the arms. l3y lateral movement of a continuous line, movement of the line in a direction perpendicular or angular tothe length or axis of the line is intended, and a reevlng operation thus effected is intended to distinguish an Operation wherein an end of a discontinuous line is passed in a direction corresponding to that of its axis into reeved relation with an object. Tnthe drawing the extremities of the arms 23 are shown as separated by a slot 16 through which a continuous line may be moved laterally into the opening underlying the taut line or lines 11. The

arms are preferably provided with abutments that the line will be wound around the an-' chor in position preferably corresponding to that of the line between holes 12 and 13. Line,

which cannot be conveniently wound in notches 14, 14 canbe wound in the broader notches 15, 15 which are provided so as to 7 give ample room for the taking up of any surplus amount of slack.

After the slack has been taken up in this manner, the cord may be locked at any desired point by passing it intoslot 16. In so doing,ithe line will meet the line which has been wound around notches 14, 14 and at any rate will meet the strand of line between ho es 12 and 13. The lineithus encountered is depressible, however, and the line inserted through slot 16 may be passed over either of the abutments 17, 17 and into either of the recesses 18, 18 at either side of slot 16 by displacing the reeled line from its normal position. The line extending across the face of the anchor between holes 12 and 13 and/or around the notches 14, 14 in the sides of the anchor will thereafter resume its original position and prevent the line'which has been passed into recesses 18, 18 from escaping. The line leading continuously from the recessed reel portion of the anchor is thus passed laterally into reeved relation with the hole in the body portionof the anchor underlying taut lines 11 and one of the arms 23 including the abutting extremity 17 thereof cooperates with the taut line or lines 11 to lock theline in reeved relation therewith and againstthe bite of said arm and abutting extremity thereof except by again moving the continuous line over the abutting extremity 17 and displacing the taut line or lines 11 from the normal position thereof and against the tension therein.

For purposes of convenience in describing this invention, the reeling means just described will be referred to as reeling means A. While the device thus shown and described is a preferable construction, the specific construction shown is not essential to my invention and any suitable reeling means may be employed. Thus it is not essential that a pair of arms 23 be employed as it is apparent that a single hooked arm may be employed in (:0- operation with a taut line extending between members of therbody portion of the anchor to prevent'the lateral movement of a continuous lineinto an opening underlyingthe taut line except by displacing the normal position of the taut line when the continuous line is moved laterally past an extremity of the-arm. Also any form of abutment over which a continuous line may be passed only upon displacement of line which has been reeled upon reeling means or which has been otherwise passed taut-1y across a face of the anchor or between members thereof, may be used as a lock to prevent the reeled line from unreeling;

In addition to reeling means A, I regard it as preferable to provide further means for taking up slack line so that, for example, several decoys may be conveniently arranged with slightly difierent lengths of line leading therefrom and/ or so that lines not in use may be conveniently reeled thereon. Said further means will be referred to herein as means B and may comprise wedge-shapedslots 21, 21, the openings'thereof being further apart than the interior portions thereof, thus providing means which may be used as a cleat. To further the convenience and efiiciency of the cle'at the body portion of the anchor between the wedge-shapedslots 21 is formed as aslot 19 into which a continuous line may be moved laterally and the slot is also preferably widened adjacent the lower extremity thereof forming a recess or recesses 20, 20 extending toward one or both of wedge-shaped slots 21.. This device may be employed, for example, by passing line into slot 19 and either of recesses 20, 20, and then continuing to wind the line in the wedge-shaped slots 21, 21. A itensioning of the cord will lock it in place by friction due to the wedge shape of slots 21, 21; The locking effect may be increased by thereafter passingthe line again throughslots 19 and into either of recesses 20, 20. I

The arrangement just described as reeling means B provides a simple reeling means which may be used alone but is preferably used in connectionwith the reeling means A herein firstdescribed. It is readily seen that reeling means A'and B enable one to conveniently meet a variety of situations where it is desired to make adjustments of anchor line and dispose of slack therein. If, for example, a number. of lines are attached to a single anchor, they may all be brought to approximate adjustment bywinding them on reeling means A and a final adjustment made in each line by means B so as to cause the floating objects to be at desired distances relative to each other. If one of several lines attached to the same anchor is not in use, it may be reeled on reeling means l3, leaving reeling means A free for use with those lines which are in use. Reeling means B, however, is particularly suitable for use as a cleat upon which to fasten anchor line when. not in use. The frictional holding of the line in the wedge-shaped slots 21, 21 is adapted to prevent the free end of such line from unreeling. Where, for example, a single line is attached to an anchor but branches near the end thereof into several short lines leading to two or more adjacent floating bodies such as decoys, such line when not in use may be conveniently wound on reeling means A up to the point where the line branches and the several branch lines Wound on reeling means B.

Fig. 3 is illustrative of a modified form of reeling means comprising my invention. The parts thereof represented by numerals 10, 11, 12, 13, 1 1, 1 1, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, and18, 18 are similar to the parts indicated by corresponding numbers in Figs. 1 and 2, and the description thereof hereinabove set forth in connection with reeling means A of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 3 is modified from the devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by omitting therefrom reeling means B hereinabove described and substituting therefor a continuously solid portion 22. The portion 22 enables the reel to be grasped by the. hand while the reel is being used and may be shaped for such purpose as desired. It is apparent that the form of reel shown in Fig. 3 maybe used as an anchor if desired.

While I have above set forth and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish thereby to limit in any way the true scope of my invention but regard said specific embodiments as merely beingillustrative. Moreover, I do not wish to limit this invention to the uses of it which have been described as they are illustrative merely, there being other Ways of using my invention to advantage. a

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising a body portion having a mouthed opening on the interior thereof, a portion for reeling line thereonsubstantially overlying said opening, an abutment preventing lateral insertion and withdrawal of a continuous line into and from said opening except upon displacement of previously reeled hooked arm leadingfrom said body portion and terminating adjacent a part of said anchor, anfabutment adjacent the end of said arm :on the inner side thereof, means for disposing a taut line across a surface of said body portion, the part of said arm comprising said abutment crossingunderneath said taut line.

An anchor comprising a portion thereof in the form of a slotted cleat, said cleat portion having an opening therein from the exterior intermediate the slots thereof and adapted for passing laterallya continuous line into reevedrelation with said opening. 1. An anchor comprising a portion in the form of a slotted cleat having inwardly extending wedge-shaped slots the bases of which slots are in closer proximity than the mouths thereof, said cleat portion having an opening therein from the exterior intermediate the slots of said-cleat and adapted for passing laterally a continuous line into reeved rela tion with said opening and recessed adjacent the inner extremity thereof toward a wedgeshaped slot of said cleat.

' 5. A reel comprising a body portion having an opening therein, means on said reel for reeling line thereon, means for passing a taut line between members of said body portion and means affording a laterally moved continuous line ingress and egress through said opening only by displacing the normal position ofsaid taut line.

6. An anchor having recesses on the sides 7 An anchor comprising a first pair of oppositely disposed notches for winding line about said anchor in said notches, a second pair of oppositely disposed notches adapted for winding line about said anchor in said notches, a body portion having an opening therethrough intermediate said first pair of notches which underlies the normal position of line wound on said anchor insaid first pair of notches, an arm partially closing said opening against the lateral movement of a continuous line into and out of said opening and an inwardly extending abutment adjacent the remote end of said arm, the extremity of said abutment extending intosaidi opening transversely to and further than the normal position of said line wound-about said anchor in said first pair of notches. z

8. A reel comprising a recessed portion adapted for winding line about said portion, members between which a taut line may be extended, a body portion havingan opening therethroughpermitting the lateral movement of a continuous line into and from reeved relation therewith, said opening being intermediate said members and underlying the normal position of a taut line extended between said members, a barrier arm whichoprevents the lateral movement of a continuous line into and out of said opening except past the remote end thereof, and an inwardly extending abutment adjacent the end of said arm, an extremity of-which abutment projects into said opening transv'ersely to and further than the normal positionof said taut line overlying said opening.

9; The combination with an anchor having a reel portion adapted for reeling line there about, of locking means for preventing a line extending from said reel portion from unreeling comprising members between which a taut line may be extended, a body portion having an opening therein partially closed by abarrier arm against lateral movement of a line extending continuously from said reel portion except through a slot adjacent the extremity of said arm, the extremity ofsaid arm being intermediate said members and underlying the normal position of a taut lineextended between said members, and the position of the extremity of said arm with respect to the normal position of said taut line being such that the lateral movement of line extending continuously from said reel, over the extremity of said arm, displaces the normal position of said'taut line, the tension of said taut line maintaining said line extending from said reel threaded within the bite of the extremity of said arm against lateral removal therefrom except by again displacing the normal position of said taut line.

10. A reel comprising a recessed portion upon which line may be wound, members between which a taut line may be extended, a body portion having an opening therein permitting the lateral movement of a continuous line into reeved relation with said opening intermediate said members and underlying the normal position of a taut line extended betwen said members, said opening being characterized by a barrier arm which prevents the lateral movement of a continusaid extremity of said arm displaces the normal position of said taut line, the tension of said taut line maintaining said line in reeved relation to said opening against lateral removal therefrom except by displacing the normal position of said taut line.

11. The combination with an anchor having a recessed portion exterior thereof for winding line thereabout, of locking means for preventing line wound upon said recessed portion from unwinding comprising a taut line extending between two members of said anchor, an arm, and an abutment on said arm, said taut line being adapted to be displaced from normal position by lateral advancement of a line leading continuously from said recessed portion over said abutment in either direction, said continous line being in reeved relation to said arm, said abutment, and said taut line when on one side of said abutment and'prevented from unwinding when in said reeved relation and being free to unwind when on the other side of said abutment.

12. The combination with an anchor having a'reel portion thereof adapted for reeling line thereabout, of locking means for preventing said line from unreeling comprising a taut line extending between two members of said anchor, and an inwardly turned hooked arm transversely disposed adjacent an extremity thereof with respect to said taut line, the position of said extremity of said arm with respect to the position of said taut line being such that said taut line is displaced by lateral, movement of a line leading continuously from said reel'portion over said extremity in either direction, said line being locked from unwinding by said taut line and by said arm when moved over said extremity in one direction and being rendered free to unwind when moved over said extremity in the other direction.

18. A reel comprising a plate, notches in the sides of said plate upon which a line may be wound, a body portion having a hole therethrough which is normally crossed by line wound upon said notches, an arm ex tending from said body portion and positionedwith respect to said hole so as to leave slot-like means adjacent the extremity thereof through which a continuous line may be laterally passed into and out of reeved relation to said hole, and an abutment on the inner end of said arm crossing transversely the normal position of line reeled upon said notches, said abutment causing a continuous line laterally advanced past the extremity of said arm and into said hole to displace from normal position line reeled upon said notches and permitting movement of said reeled line toward normal position upon further advancement of said line thus introduced into reeved relation with respect to said hole.

14. A reel comprising a plate, notches in the sides of said plate upon which a line may peel be wound, a body portion having a hole therethrough which is normally crossed by line wound upon said notches, an arm extending from said body portion and positioned with respect to said hole so as to leave slot-like means adjacent the extremity thereof through which a continuous line may be laterally passed into and out of reeved relation to said hole, an abutment on the inner end of said arm crossing transversely the normal position of l1ne reeled upon said notches, said abutment causing a continuous line laterally advanced past the extremity of said arm and into said hole to displace from normal position line reeled upon said notches and permitting movement of said reeled line toward normal position upon further advancement of said line thus introduced into reeved relation with respect to said hole and a portion in the form of a cleat having angularly disposed slots.

15. The combination with a reel having a reel portion on the exterior thereof for winding line thereabout, of locking means for preventing said line from unwinding from said reel portion comprising a taut line extending between two members of said reel, a hooked arm having an inwardly abutting extremity underlying said taut line, said taut line being adapted to be displaced from normal position by lateral advancement of a line leading continuously from said reel portion over said inwardly abutting extremity in either direction.

16. The combination with a reel having a reel portion on the exterior thereof for winding line thereabout, of locking means for preventing said line from unwinding from said reel portion comprising a taut line extending between two members of said reel, a hooked arm having an inwardly abutting extremity, said taut line being adapted to be displaced from normal position by lateral advancement of a line leading continuously from said reel portion over said inwardly abutting extremity in either direction and supplementary securing means in the form of a cleat having angularly disposed wedgeshaped slots.

17. The combination with a portable marine anchor having a reel portion about which line may be reeled, of locking means into association with which a continuous line leading from said reel portion may be brought at different degrees of extension from said winding to prevent said line from unwinding from said reel portion. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN S. VOORHEES. 

